Track-brake



( No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. VOLKi TRACK BRAKE.

No. 423,294. E ,Z

Milli-I mu Tzrverazfor/ M XM @51 VIII/m (Nd Model.) 2 sheets -sheet 2. I I J. VOLK.

TRAGK BRAKE,

No. 423,294. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

A Iii I: A

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

JACOB VOLK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE VOLK CABLE CROSS- ING GRIP AND CARDRAKE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,294, dated March 11, 1890.

Application filed July 27, 1889,

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, J ACOB VOLK, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track- Brakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appeitains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car-brakes which are applied to the track; and the object of said invention is to secure therein the utmost attainable efficiency with the greatest sim- 5 plioity, strength, and cheapness. This object I attain by the construction and combination of parts, hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved brakes and brake-operating mechanism with the proximate parts of the car-frame. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section through the latter, showing the brakes and their op- 2 5 crating mechanism in elevation. Figs. 3 and 4 represent one of the brakeshoes and the proximate operating devices in side elevation, the former showing the brake raised abovethe level of the rail and the latter show- 0 ing it forced down thereon. I

In the said drawings, A designates a part of the frame-work: of the car, which is provided underneath with bearings a, in which a transverse rock-shaft B is journaled. Be-

5 yond these bearings 011 each side the said shaft is provided with crankarn1s b, to each of which a connecting-rod O is attached at one end by bolt 0, with freedom of motion thereon. The other end of said connecting- 0 rod in each instance is similarly attache by bolt d to a crank-arm D of a short shaft D, extending outward to a point over the rail and rocking with shaft 13. The two shafts D and the parts attached thereto are identical 5 in construction, arrangement, and operation on the two sides of the car. Each shaft D is supported in a bearing D fastened, as here inafter described, indirectly to the under side of car-frame A, and carries an eccentric E,

turning in a yoke F, to raise and lower the latter in the vertical longitudinal plane with Serial No. 318,881. (No model.)

the rail 011 that side. From said yoke a long track-brake shoe G is suspended by means of a stout bar or shank G. This brake-shoe may be in one piece; but I prefer to make 1t in two pieces of different material, connected by pins 9 in the one part and slots g in the other part, as shown in Fig. 4. This enables me to withdraw and replace the lower part when worn or broken without removing the part attached to the shank. The lower part of said shoe has most of the wear and should be very strong and durable. It fits on the rail and is of considerable length.

The guide for the shank G of the brakeshoe consists of two parallel Vertical bars I-I, having their upper ends I-I' constructed to incline and-diverge and bolted to frame A of the car, also of stout horizontal straps H extending across from one of said vertical bars II to the other. A bent brace-strap I extends from the inclined part H of one of said bars H to the corresponding part of the other bar II, and is provided near its middle with one of the bearings D before mentioned, for the support of the nearer shaft D. The main shaft B is provided with a third crank-arm b at a point between the crank-arms h aforesaid, but preferably nearer one of them than the other. From this crank-arm b a connect- 8 ing rod J extendsto a crank-arm 70 on a shaft L, journaled in a bearing Z, attached to frame A, the attachment of said connecting-rod to said crank-arms being by bolts 7a, which allow motion of said rod on them to prevent 5 binding as said shafts rock backward or forward. The short shaft L is provided with a hand-lever M. By moving this hand-lever in one direction the shoe is raised from the rail, as in Fig. 3. By moving said lever in the other direction the shoe is forced down to the rail, as in Fig. 4. In these two figures the line X indicates the level of the top of the rail. In either instance the motion is transmitted through the shafts, connecting-rods, eccentric, and yoke, hereinbefore described, operating in accordance with their known and obvious function. The short shafts D D L are not absolutely necessary, though preferred and convenient, since the eccentrics I and hand-lever might be mounted on the main shaft 13 with no change of construction beyond discarding the superfluous short shafts, connecting-rods, and bolts. In either case the two brake-shoes are operated simultaneously and equally.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination With rock-shaft B, the smaller rock-shafts D I) L and their connecting-rods, the eccentrics carried by shafts D, the yokes in and with which said eccentrics operate, the shoes raised or lowered simultaneously by the action of said eccentrics and yokes, and means for rocking said shaft B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

2. In combination with a vertically-movable brake-shoe and its shank and yoke, ashaft tending from the upper part of one of said downwardly-extending barsto the other and provided with a bearing for said shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB VOLK. WVitnesses:

ALBERT GERsT, K. MORGNES. 

